Former antique shop owner, supporter of Shaker heritage, world traveler
Helen Friot. (Courtesy photo)
Helen L. Reid Friot, 86 years young, passed away peacefully with family May 28, 2018, after a brave and graceful battle with ALS at her home in Wells, Maine.
Born in East Boston, Helen grew up in Medford, graduating from Girls Catholic High School, and continuing her education with classes at Boston University. In 1948 Helen met her future husband of 62 years, Alan H. Friot. They spent time in Washington, D.C., working for the Central Intelligence Agency, before moving back to Massachusetts, and settling in Winchester to raise their children. Life took Helen and her family to Harvard; Groton; Kennebunkport, Maine; and finally Wells, Maine.
Helen had many hobbies, which included the opening of her 1810 House antique shop. Later she helped to establish the Friends of the Shakers, Sabbathday Lake, Maine, and the Boston Shaker Study Group. Throughout her life Helen loved art, traveling the world with her daughter, Suzanne Gagnon, to see art and architecture from China to many European countries. One of the defining characteristics of Helen was her love of photography. She was always taking photographs, even into her final days, printing and creating photo albums for her family. Helen’s curiosity informed her life in every aspect: learning, researching, and connecting with friends and family on Facebook with her favorite toy, the iPad.
Helen loved getting involved with local clubs in every place she lived. She belonged to the Groton Woman’s Club, Ogunquit Women’s Club, Shaker Seminars, and, in her later years, the Kennebunk and Wells Ogunquit senior centers.
Helen is survived by her husband, Alan H. Friot, and her children: Paul and his wife, Pattie, of Harvard, Christopher and his wife, Janet, of Groton, and Suzanne L.F. Gagnon of Portland, Maine. She is survived by her brother, Robert J. Reid, and his wife, Nancy Reid; her sister, Marilyn A. Petone, widow of Michael Petone; and Nancy J. Reid, the widow of her late brother, William J. Reid. Helen was very proud of her grandchildren, Christopher A. Friot II and his fiancée, Irie, of Boston; Jillian A. Friot of Boston; and Cooper J. Gagnon of Kennebunkport, Maine. Helen was also a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Helen will be remembered with great love and joy as a stylish, artistic, generous, loving lady and a secret rebel.
A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 Route 1 #1, Scarborough, ME 04074 or Compassionate Care ALS, P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574 (https://ccals.org/you-can-help/donate).
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Helen’s Book of Memories page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
